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Mental health services in schools: A qualitative analysis of challenges to implementation, operation, and sustainability
Author(s) -
Massey Oliver T.,
Armstrong Kathleen,
Boroughs Michael,
Henson Kelli,
McCash Linda
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
psychology in the schools
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1520-6807
pISSN - 0033-3085
DOI - 10.1002/pits.20063
Subject(s) - mental health , focus group , qualitative research , psychology , medical education , sustainability , nursing , medicine , sociology , psychiatry , ecology , social science , biology , anthropology
Schools are increasingly recognized as a critical venue for the provision of comprehensive behavioral and mental health services for students. Unfortunately, difficulties associated with operating programs in schools often prevent evidence‐based practices from being implemented and sustained as intended. In this study, the experiences of school and community providers who were funded through the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative to implement mental health services in a large, urban school district were investigated using a qualitative focus group methodology. Providers identified the major challenges they encountered with implementing, operating, and sustaining their programs as well as the strategies that they used to overcome those challenges. Strategies to enhance support of school‐based mental health programs are discussed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 42: 361–372, 2005.